Another real estate agency is likely to set up shop on Main Street in Sag Harbor. In an unofficial poll members of the Sag Harbor Village Zoning Board of Appeals approved the request for a change of use of an office space on 35 Main Street, which had previously been the offices of The Sag Harbor Express. Sotheby’s International Realty hopes to set up shop in the offices. At issues is a five-year-old law that limits the number of allowable offices on Main Street.

The preliminary approval came as somewhat of a surprise according to the Sag Harbor Express, which reported that at a meeting last month there was public opposition to the plan and the board had seemed indecisive on the matter. The Chairman of the ZBA, Anton Hagen, was the only member present who said he would vote against it, negatively citing “proliferation of real estate offices on Main Street” and “another wall of photographs of properties on Main Street. I don’t think that’s desirable.” Though he admitted he was “conflicted,” as a year-round occupant would also be a good thing for Main Street.

The formal decision on the application will take place on September 23, and if approved, as expected, Sotheby’s International Realty will move into the new space in the fall. It’s certainly an upgrade for Sotheby’s in terms of the foot traffic—the firm’s current Sag Harbor location is on Spring Street.